Each year The Family Support Council honors servant leaders who are making a difference in the community at the annual “Toast of the Town.”

This year marks the group’s 30th year highlighting worthy individuals, and the council announces Bob Chandler as this year’s honoree. The event is Thursday, June 13, at The Farm to toast Chandler and work to eradicate the tragic consequences of child abuse and neglect.

Chandler, a Dalton native and passionate community leader, has worked diligently on impacting Dalton through his hard work. Chandler attended Dalton Public Schools and the McCallie School where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and developed his football skills, thus carrying him to the University of Georgia where he was a punter under coach Vince Dooley. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in business administration. Today he is still a passionate Georgia Bulldog fan.

Chandler is no stranger to the carpet industry as his father I.V. Chandler started a bedspread manufacturing business known as Patcraft Mills. He worked there right out of college and continued with the company through many changes and acquisitions. In 1998, Shaw Industries merged with Queen Carpet, which had acquired Patcraft in 1990, and Chandler continued as head of the Patcraft Commercial Division. Today, Chandler is the executive vice president of the Shaw Commercial Division. He understands what it means to give back to a community that has blessed him and his family, event organizers said.

Chandler has long been active in his community and is passionate about his work as chairman of the board of Hamilton Medical Center and vice chairman of Hamilton Healthcare System. He cares about the quality of health care in the community and devotes countless hours attending to that mission. Chandler was the recipient of the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation Humanitarian Award in 2014. He is an elder of ChristChurch Presbyterian, chairman of BB&T bank’s local advisory board and a member of the Dalton Rotary Club.

Previously, Chandler served on the United Way of Northwest Georgia’s Board of Directors and was chair of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society for two years. He has also served on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boys & Girls Clubs, Family Promise, Junior Achievement, the Carpet and Rug Institute and the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce.

Bob and his wife, Susan, have been married 45 years. They are active members of ChristChurch Presbyterian and they have two children: Matthew, who passed away in 2013, and Beth, who also works at Shaw. Beth is married to Joe Lopez and they have given Bob and Susan three grandchildren. Bobby is 6, and twins Alex and Annie are 3. The Chandlers remain close to his sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Fred Burns, and their children’s families: Patti and Doug Renz and their children Chandler and Mary Turner; Meredith and Christopher Parks and their children, William and Andrew; and Andy Burns. Chandler’s favorite hobbies are golfing, Georgia football, reading, the lake and spending time with his grandchildren.

Reservations for Toast of the Town can be made by calling (706) 272-7919.